Dillon D. Payne

Dillon Payne is an associate in the Casualty Department in the Philadelphia office of Marshall Dennehey. His practice focuses on asbestos and toxic tort litigation, as well as general liability matters, including premises and automobile liability.

During law school, Dillon gained broad experience in both federal and state courts, as well as in international practice. He worked with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, supporting complex civil and criminal matters and appeals.

Dillon is a graduate of Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, where he earned his juris doctor in 2024. He also holds a Master of Science in Education, with a concentration in Educational Policy, from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, and a Bachelor of Arts from Millersville University of Pennsylvania. Dillon completed study abroad programs in South Africa through both Villanova and Millersville.

- Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law (J.D., 2024)
- University of Pennsylvania (M.S.Ed., 2019)
  Educational Policy
- Millersville University of Pennsylvania (B.A., 2014)
- Pennsylvania, 2025
Assisted in securing a unanimous 6-0 defense verdict in a New Jersey premises liability case after the jury found no negligence on the part of the defendant. The plaintiff alleged that a six-foot drill bit fell from a retail display, causing a concussion, post-concussion syndrome and permanent cognitive impairments. The defense demonstrated that the item was displaced only after an unidentified customer struck the shelving with a shopping cart and that there was no evidence store employees knew or should have known of the condition. Through surveillance video, fact witness testimony and expert evidence, the defense also established that the impact was inconsistent with the forces necessary to cause a concussion and highlighted alternative explanations for the plaintiff's claimed injuries. Following a six-day trial, the jury returned a complete defense verdict, finding the defendant was not negligent.
Assisted in securing a unanimous defense verdict in a premises liability matter involving a national home improvement retailer. The plaintiff alleged that she developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) following a fall in the retailer's parking lot in October 2022. Plaintiff claimed that the incident necessitated significant ongoing medical treatment, including the implantation of a permanent spinal cord stimulator. The plaintiff sought substantial damages, including claims for extensive future medical care. The defense team successfully challenged the credibility of the plaintiff's allegations and expert testimony through rigorous cross-examination and the presentation of defense experts in forensic engineering, human factors, and pain management. The defense also demonstrated that the plaintiff's alleged condition was attributable to pre-existing medical issues rather than the incident at issue. Following a six-day trial, the jury deliberated for just 42 minutes before returning a unanimous verdict finding no negligence on the part of the defendant.
- AmeriCorps PACC*VISTA, in partnership with University of Pennsylvania